Stephen King, left, owner of Zone Radio in Bangor, answers questions during a press conference regarding programming on WZON 103.1FM and 620AM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at the radio station's headquarters in Bangor. Buy Photo

BDN staff reports

Posted April 23, 2013, at 6:53 p.m.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine authors Stephen and Tabitha King have made a substantial donation to a statewide group that is advocating for stricter gun control laws, according to the group’s website. The Coalition for a Safer Maine publicly acknowledged the Kings for the unspecified financial gift in an article posted on April 10 on its website.

According to the website, the Kings support proposed legislation that would expand background checks, ban high-capacity magazines and strengthen regulations preventing those legally found to be mentally ill from possessing guns. Proposed legislation on gun control is being heard this week at the State House in Augusta.

“We are grateful for the generous support of Mr. and Mrs. King at this pivotal moment in our efforts to establish common sense gun regulations in Maine. This gift, along with many other gifts from like-minded people around the state, will be used immediately to fund our advocacy efforts,” said Larry Gilbert, former mayor of Lewiston and co-chairman of the coalition in a statement on the website.

“Mr. King strongly defends the Second Amendment and acts accordingly — he owns three handguns,” stated Paula Silsby, former U.S. Attorney and co-chairman of the coalition, on the website. “And as a gun owner, he believes the right is also a responsibility that should be safeguarded by sensible laws, such as expanding background checks and banning the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines.”